iTunes starts up whenever I connect my bluetooth headset

Dear Apple,

I'm disabling iTunes even though I have a library with 30,373 tracks 4,700 of which I bought from you because you are asleep at the wheel and forcing users to accept iTunes as the auto launching default handler of all things audio isn't winning you any more friends. I'm disappointed that you haven't had anyone fix the problem or at a minimum respond to this thread. Oh well, all hail Spotify, and Amazon Prime, long may you reign!

I'm also replying here to report the problem and as others mentioned I shouldn't need to go to the Terminal, kill iTuneshelper or rename my app to start this, it should be an option you uncheck in iTunes.

Apple - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH - chime in here and acknowledge your working on a next fix in the next release or a bunch of us are going to move away from iTunes for good!

applesmbissues - THANKS! This solution seems to have fixed this problem. As a long time Windows user trying out a Macbook for the first time, I am disappointed that this issue has been going on as long as it has!

I googled "apple bluetooth headset iTunes" to find out this problem. I realize that many people have been dealing with this issue, and Apple is doing nothing in response. What a disappointment..

I use the latest version of 13 inch - Macbook Air (purchased on June, 2013) and use LG's bluetooth headset HBS-730. I noticed such problem couple weeks after I've been using the LG headset with my Macbook Air. It is not a huge trouble for me. HOWEVER, it is annoying that there is not a simple way to stop iTunes launch automatically.

Apple! Please, be considerate and listen to your customers.

I have a somewhat similar problem. Whenever I turn off the Bose, or it times out and disconnects, Itunes automatically starts playing from the computer speakers, even if Itunes wasn't being used or even open.

I know the low-tech solution is to just mute it, but it's annoying that this happens.

I have a very much similar problem - whenever the bluetooth speaker is disconnected, itunes launches automatically. except that tonight, it even started playing podcasts by itself. it's most annoying and even more irritating that nobody at apple seems to give ****.

Apple, your lack of response in this thread is equivalent to spitting in your users' faces. Nobody wants to use iTunes anymore, and for bluetooth controls to be hard-coded to it is totally unacceptable.

I enjoy using Apple computers, I've been using them for decades, but it's this kind of behavior that caused me to diversify when it was time to get a smartphone. Anyway thanks for posting this procedure. It works, and it has survived an iTunes update without any modifications.

Sue Apple...that's about where I'm at with this issue. Apple has a stake in this music game, but I should be able to use whatever music provider I want...without them injecting their own music solution on me. This is back to the days of MS and IE...where IE was tightly integrated into the platform. I should not HAVE to be forced to use their applications for everything. I'm tired of it. Apple isn't about the ecosystem anymore. They're about making money...and these are tactics to force you to explore their options over others.

Every...single...time...I connect my BT BeoPlay 8 HP to listen to spotify or pandora....iturnes gets turned up and AUTOMATICALLY starts playing! what crap is that?!

I did not realize that this board was "user to user," but I did wonder why Apple never chimes in.

I admit to not reading about these boards before posting; in hopes of setting to rest any further misconceptions, please reply with a link to where I might do so.

Thank you!

Steve

I just got a new bluetooth headset and had the same problem. Now I come across this thread which is 5 years old. I think I'm going to buy a wired headset instead and keep this bluetooth to use with my phone.

Shame on Apple for not solving something so simple!

I know you wrote this over a year ago, but THANK YOU SO MUCH. Your terminal method is the only one that's worked to rid my life of iTunes. I can finally connect to my LG bluetooth headset without iTunes stealthily launching itself/blasting Adele's "Skyfall" (the first track in my library :P) at my face. You're my hero, applesmbissues!

Yep, I can confirm the above. The issue is NOT with iTunes. Rather, the issue is with a process called iTunesHelper that launches on startup. Preventing this process from starting at bootup (or even just manually killing it using Activity Monitor) will prevent iTunes from automatically launching when you connect a Bluetooth audio device. Thanks for the post above.

EDIT: Crap, never mind. I'm still having the same issue even with iTunesHelper disabled. It just takes 10 seconds longer....

thanks KiawahOC! this seems to have helped.

i can't believe apple would allow this to happen. my bluetooth headphones are connected to my phone. any time there is activity on it like a call or a text (which is all the time) iTunes pops up and BLARES random music in my ears.

Auto-start of the reviled iTunes is just too much to bear. If Jobs were still at the helm, heads would be rolling. I've tried all the fixes to no avail. It's just another marvelous 'feature' of the once mighty Mac OS....

So dumb.